Anne Crouse, who shaped two Broomfield nonprofits, remembered as community advocate

By Megan Quinn

Enterprise Staff Writer

Posted:
12/02/2013 03:07:37 PM MST

Anne Crouse, a longtime Broomfield resident who was active in many community efforts, including the founding of Broomfield FISH and serving on City Council, died Friday. (Courtesy photo)

Anne Crouse, known for her role as a founding member of the Broomfield FISH food bank and the Broomfield Community Foundation, died Friday. She was 82.

Family members said she was dedicated to making Broomfield better by serving on City Council, volunteering for boards and commissions and getting others involved in community causes.

"A lot of people talk. She wasn't a talker, she was a doer," said her son, Peter Crouse.

Anne Crouse, who had lived in Broomfield since 1957, dedicated time to many causes in the city. She was a council member from 1993 to 1997 and also served as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. She was a former manager of the Broomfield Chamber of Commerce, a board member for Broomfield Senior Services and a member of the Broomfield Economic Development Council.

Crouse also was a founding member of Broomfield FISH and a founding member of the Broomfield Community Foundation. Her involvement in the city earned her a 2003 Heart of Broomfield Award. In May, she also became the namesake of a park near Kohl Street.

Crouse's daughter, Wendy McAllister, said many people have been impacted by her mother's community engagement. Yet Anne Crouse also had a special brand of support for her family — a mixture of humor, straightforward opinions and unconditional love — that McAllister said helped her get through tough times.

"She gave me very good advice, sometimes with a mix of sarcastic humor, but always with honesty and love," she said. "If I were to throw a pity party for myself, she would not be attending."

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McAllister said her mother also was dedicated to her nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A week before she died, Crouse was able to see all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at a family gathering.

To honor Crouse's impact on the community, City Council voted in May to rename a park as Anne Crouse Park.

The small park near 136th Avenue and Kohl Street, formerly known as Tank Park because of the large water tanks in the vicinity, offers views of the Front Range and connects to the Lake Link trail across the street.

City Councilwoman Martha Derda called the park renaming a tribute to Crouse and her family.

"I really support this because of the work Anne did (and the) countless hours spent," Derda said after the renaming in May.

The family unofficially calls the park Annie's Outlook, because of the beautiful view, Peter Crouse said.

Anne Crouse also is known for her efforts to beautify the city with large flower pots, which are placed in locations around the city during the spring and summer. She started the effort to place the flower pots at street corners, and they are now placed and maintained by the city.

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